Cradles to Crayons-Philadelphia announced today that Debra Roberts, who has served in executive positions with some of this region’s most successful and respected businesses and nonprofit organizations, has joined its staff as director of individual and family philanthropy, a new position.
Roberts will be a member of Cradles to Crayons’ development team, reporting to Michal Smith, executive director of the West Conshohocken-based nonprofit.
“Debra is a seasoned development director,” said Smith, “with a breadth and depth of experience that will significantly enhance our ability to realize our ambitious 2013 – 2015 revenue goals through individual and family philanthropic support. Debra’s creativity,” she continued, “backed with her practical knowledge of the challenges facing a fast-growing nonprofit, will be key to building Cradles to Crayons’ capacity to move to larger facilities in the next three years.”
Cradles to Crayons, established in Philadelphia in 2007, provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play, and supplies the items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need.
“What a special opportunity this is,” Roberts said, “joining a leading voice for young, disadvantaged children in the Greater Philadelphia region, at a time when these voices need to be heard and responded to – not just to enable them to thrive today at home, at school, and at play, but to address the serious, long-term implications of growing up in poverty. Not only does that mean that they will start school up to two years behind their more affluent peers,” she emphasized, “but growing up in poverty also means that these kids are more likely to face unemployment, health problems and problematic behaviors as adults. That can no longer be accepted.”
Prior to joining Cradles to Crayons, Roberts served in key management posts with TV Guide, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, and Gift of Life Family House. “Debra’s broad-based experience with these organizations and her impressive consulting track record in fundraising, marketing and programming development assignments match perfectly with our needs,” Smith said. “We are very excited to have her on our team.”
Cradles to Crayons-Philadelphia has distributed more than one million essential children’s items to 100,000-plus disadvantaged and underserved children in the past five years, and provides invaluable civic opportunities for 1,300-plus volunteers each month.
Roberts, a graduate (Bachelor of Arts in journalism) of University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a resident of Wyndmoor, Pa.